MCB Home Page - Tulane University

MCB Home --> Core Curriculum --> Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions

This is the curriculum for current MCB students. Prospective students may use this is as a tentative guideline, but the core curriculum has yet to be set for the Medical Sciences Ph.D. Program.

General Biochemistry (GBCH 601)

This is a four hour, first year, graduate level course, designed to be a fairly rigorous introduction to the subject permitting the students to handle more advanced courses in biochemistry. Topics covered include: structure and function of macromolecules, bioenergetics and enzyme kinetics. Intermediary and lipid metabolism is now offered as a secondary elective course. The course also includes an introduction to molecular biology that is a prerequisite for GBCH 718.

Instructor: TBA

Biostatistics (GBCH 725)

This is an introductory course in applied bench science biostatistics. It covers both graphical and numerical methods of describing data, an introduction to probability and probability distributions, parameter estimation and hypothesis testing. This course is required for all first year students

Instructor: Dr. Bill Wimley

Introduction to Biochemistry (CHEM 683)

Designed for students who have not had a previous course in Biochemistry. Properties of biological compounds. Bioenergetics and kinetics, basic metabolic pathways, general biochemical mechanisms. Prerequisite: Organic Chemistry. This course is in lieu of GBCH 601

Instructor: TBA

Intermediate Biochemistry (CHEM 684)

Intermediary metabolism with emphasis on integration of lipid, saccharide, and amino acid metabolism. Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation. Prerequisite: Introduction to Biochemistry. (required to fulfill biochemistry core with Chemistry 683)

Advanced Cell Biology I (MCBP 607)

Lectures, readings, and discussions of the literature in the fields of cellular, and molecular biology. Prerequisite: Approval of the instructor.

Instructor: Dr. Gilbert Morris

Biochemical Genetics (GBCH 718)

This course has three goals: First, advanced areas of eukaryotic molecular biology will be presented including DNA replication, recombination, transcription, processing, and translational regulation. Second, investigations that involve the intersection between molecular biology and genetics will be studied. Third, students will be educated in thinking independently about experimental problems and critical evaluation of the literature. In lieu of HMGN 707

Instructor: Dr. Art Lustig

Introduction to Molecular Genetics (HMGN 707)
This is an entry level graduate course on nucleic acid structure, DNA cloning and sequencing, expression of cloned DNA in mammalian cell cultures and transgenic mice, the polymerase chain reaction, genetic control of protein synthesis with emphasis on transcription and post-transcriptional processing in mammals, DNA replication, and DNA repair. The prerequisite for this lecture course is an undergraduate molecular genetics, molecular biology, or biochemistry course with a strong genetic component. In lieu of GBCH 718
Instructor: Dr. Melanie Ehrlich

MCB Workshop (MCBP 710-711)
This course is designed to familiarize students with current research in molecular and cellular biology and to strengthen their presentation skills. Students make one presentation per semester on either their research or recent journal articles to their classmates and MCB faculty. The presentation is followed by a critique and discussion session in which the presenter answers questions from the audience. Students are graded on the presentation and discussion session, and attendance.
Instructor: Dr. Karol Sestak and Dr. Bradley Taylor

MCB Research Methods (MCBP 712-713)

Students attend 1 semester of faculty research seminars, and 3 2-month lab rotations (2 credits each, for a total of 8 credits). Students choose from the faculty in the Program as their directors for each of the three lab rotations. Students complete two lab rotations in the Spring. The third rotation takes place in the summer after the first year. (Students have the option of completing a lab rotation in the Fall of the first semester and not rotating in the Summer).

Instructor: Dr. Robert Garry

MCB Seminars (MCBP 714-715)

Students attend a minimum of 7 seminars per semester with 1-3 designated as required, with the remainder chosen by the student. A list of seminars is given to each student at the beginning of each month for consideration, however students may attend any seminars of interest to them related to molecular and cellular biology. A final report listing the date, title, and speaker of each seminar attended, along with a one-paragraph description of same is required. (Note: seminars attended for credit in the elective course, "Ethics in Research Workshop" cannot also be applied for credit in the course, "MCB Seminars".)

Instructor: Dr. Michael Henson

List of Electives

Note: Courses offered by the Medical School begin two-three weeks earlier than those offered by the Graduate School; please consider your elective course selections accordingly.

The Elective curriculum consists of the following courses, or others which the student's Advisor may recommend:

Biochemistry:
Current Topics in Protein Structure and Chemistry. GBCH 701
Biochemical Genetics. GBCH 718 (4) Spring

Structure and Function of Biomolecules. GBCH 722 (4) Spring
Metabolism GBCH 603

Cell and Molecular Biology:
Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology II CELL 608 (3) Spring

Developmental Neurobiology. CELL 635 (3) Fall
Cell Physiology. CELL 621 (3) Fall
Microbiology. CELL 622 (3) Fall

Seminar in Molecular Biology. CELL 787 (2) Fall
Systems Neuroscience. CELL 632 (3) Spring
Neurobiology of Disease. CELL 634 (3) Spring
Molecular Neurobiology. CELL 437/637 (3) Fall
Molecular Basis of Human Genetic Disease. CELL 641 (3) Spring

Cellular Neurophysiology. CELL 663 (3) Spring
Molecular Biology of Cancer. CELL 471/671 (3) Spring

Developmental Genetics. CELL 678 (3) Spring

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering:
Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals. CENG 672 (3) Fall
Advances in Biotechnology. CENG 772 (3) Spring

Chemistry:
Introduction to Biochemistry. CHEM 683 (3) Fall
Intermediate Biochemistry. CHEM 684 (3) Spring

Environmental Health Sciences:
Principles of Toxicology. ENHS 660 (3) Fall
Toxicology of Environmental Agents. ENHS 661 (3) Spring Molecular Basis of Cancer. ENHS 781 (3) Fall
Research Methods / Design of Experiments in Toxicology. ENHS 785 (3) Spring
Genetic and Molecular Toxicology. ENHS 786 (3) Fall

Human Genetics
Introduction to Molecular Genetics, HMGN 707 (4) Spring

Microbiology/Immunology:
Genetics and Physiology of Microbial Pathogens. MIIM 704 (4) Spring
Advanced Virology. MIIM 712 (4) Spring
Molecular Aspects of Microbial Pathogenesis. MIIM 725 (4) Spring
Advanced Immunology. MIIM 760 (3) Spring
Pathogenesis of Eukaryotic Microorganisms. MIIM 721-004 (3) Spring

Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program:

Selected Topics. MCBP 777-##/Independent Study (0-4) Fall/Spring

Research. MCBP 799-##/Independent Study (0-5) Fall/Spring
Molecular Basis of Disease. MCBP 777-02 (3)

Neuroscience:

Methods in Neuroscience. NSCI 680/702 (2/2) Fall/Spring
Graduate Neuroscience, NSIP 711-712 (3) Fall/Spring

Parasitology:

Medical Helminthology. GPAR 701 (3) Fall

Medical Protozoology. GPAR 703 (3) Fall
Medical Entomology. GPAR 706 (3) Spring

Methods in Cell Biology. GPAR 707 (3) Spring

Immunology. GPAR 717 (3) Fall

Immunoparasitology. GPAR 718 (2) Spring
Tropical Virology. GPAR 742 (3) Spring

Pathology:

Molecular Biology of the Cell. GPTH 607

Pathobiology. GPTH 703 (3)

Molecular Medicine. GPTH 705 (4)

Pharmacology:

Drugs and Their Actions. GPHR 605 (3) Fall
Clinical Toxicology. GPHR 704 (2)

Cellular Control Mechanisms. GPHR 705 (2) Fall

Neuropharmacology. GPHR 704
Cardiovascular/Endocrine Pharmacology. GPHR 706 (2) Spring

Principles of Pharmacology. GPHR 723/724 (4/4) Fall/Spring
Mechanisms of Hormone Action. GPHR 756 (2) Spring

Physiology:

Cell Signaling and Membrane Function. GPSO 601 (3)
Human Physiology. GPSO 604 (6)
Experimental Physiology. GPSO 606 (3)
Principles of Molecular Physiology. GPSO 717 (2) Fall
Renal Physiology. GPSO 732 (3) Fall

Mechanisms of Hormone Action. GPSO 756 (2) Fall

Electophysiology and Synaptic Transmission. GPSO 758 (3) Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology. GPSO 760 (3)
Molecular Transport. GPSO 799 (3)

Structural and Cell Biology:

Histology. ANAT 601 (5) Fall

Human Embryology. ANAT 603 (3) Fall

Biology of the Cell Cycle. ANAT 604 (3) Spring

Gross and Developmental Anatomy. ANAT 609 (5) Fall